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“I Cannot Question The President” – Nigeria’s Finance Minister,  On N1.15b Vehicles To Niger Republic

By
The Source
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Toyota Landcruiser Buhari Bought for Niger Republic

By Gideon Njoku

Nigeria’s Finance and Budget Minister, Zainab Ahmed, was helpless over the approval of a whopping N1.15b by President Muhammadu Buhari to purchase vehicles for Nigeria’s neighbouring country, Niger Republic.

The Minister expressed her helpless situation when he briefed State House Correspondents on Wednesday, after the Federal Executive Council meeting.

The news of the approval by Buhari, especially, when University students have been on a forced holiday for five months and counting over FGs inability to pay their Lecturers, was greeted with outrage.

But defending the approval, Ahmed said it is the President’s prerogative to assess the situation in Nigeria’s neighbouring countries, especially, as it could affect Nigeria’s security and help such countries out for the good of Nigeria.

On her role, she said she was not in a position to question the President. “I cannot question  the President”, she said.

The Minister, also, revealed that this was not the first time Nigeria was helping its neighbours- Cameroon, Chad, etc.  She explained that it is President Buhari’s responsibility to make such decisions in the best interests of the country.

“Let me just say that, over time, Nigeria has had to support its neighbours, especially, immediate neighbours, to enhance their capacity to secure their countries as it relates to us.

“This is not the first time that Nigeria has supported Niger, Cameroon or Chad, and the President makes an assessment as to what is required, based on the request of their president and such requests are approved and the interventions provided is to enhance their capacity to protect their own territory as it relates to security also to Nigeria.

“Nigerians have a right to ask questions, but also the President has a responsibility to make an assessment of what is in the best interests of the country. And I cannot question that decision.”

The news, which revealed details of the largesse to Niger Republic was broken to bewildered Nigerians on

June 15, 2022. The media report revealed  details of  President  Buhari’s  Government’s approval of  the sum of N1.15 billion  for the procurement of 10 Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles for officials of the Niger Republic.

According to the report, the information which was  got from the ‘appropriations’ page of the Finance Ministry’s website, and  showed that in July 2022, the sum of  N1,145,000,000 was approved for payment to Kaura Motors Nigeria Limited to supply the SUVs.

The disbursement was approved by the President since February 2022.

Not a few Nigerians have wondered, and are still wondering about the very special relationship between  President Buhari and Niger Republic. Since he became President, Buhari has paid a very special attention to that country, including extending railway lines from Katsina to Niger Republic.

Terrorism Report: NBC Slams Trust TV with N5 Million Fine

By
Uche Mbah
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By Uche Mbah

Trust Television, a Station owned by the Daily Trust Group, has been slammed with a fine of five million Naira by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for airing a documentary on banditry and terrorism in North west of the country.

Though the documentary, titled ‘Nigeria’s Banditry: The Inside Story’,was aired in March, Government appeared to have acted following a recent documentary  by the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC. BBC African Eye, which aired its own documentary on Zamfara state recently.

The BBC documentary was titled ‘The Bandit Warlords of Zamfara’

Trust Television was punished retroactively with the BBC for what the National Broadcating Commission, NBC, called “glorifying terrorism”.

The TV station in a statement Wednesday, said the the punitive measure was conveyed in a letter dated August 3.

“The NBC, in a letter to our company dated August 3, 2022, which was signed by its Director General, Balarabe Shehu Illela, said the fine was imposed on Trust TV because its broadcast of the said documentary contravened sections of the National Broadcasting Code,” the statement reads.

“While we are currently studying the Commission’s action and weighing our options, we wish to state unequivocally that as a television station, we believe we were acting in the public interest by shedding light on the thorny issue of banditry and how it is affecting millions of citizens of our country.

“The documentary traces the root of the communal tensions and systemic inadequacies which led to the armed conflict that is setting the stage for another grand humanitarian crisis in Nigeria.

“It presents insights into the intersection of injustice, ethnicity and bad governance as drivers of the conflict.

“It also aggregates voices of experts and key actors towards finding solutions, including those of the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Senator Saidu Mohammed Dansadau, who hails from one the worst hit communities in Zamfara state.”

The Minister for Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed had said a few days ago that the FG would punish both Trust TV and the BBC for airing the documentaries.

Judge Orders Corporal Punishment For Convict , Plus 14 Years Jail Term

By
Ayodele Oni
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Law and Court

By Ayodele Oni

Justice Olalekan Olatawura of Ekiti State High Court has ordered that a 26 years old Oluwatosin Ajikawo, should be canned daily while in Jail for 14 years after being found guilty

of attempted  rape and grievous harm.

Ajikawo was arraigned before the court last year on two count charges of attempt to rape and grievous harm of one Kolawole Omotola.

Omotola had told the court how the convict attempted to rape her while threatening her with a knife save for the intervention of her neighbors who responded to her distress call and came to her rescue.

The charge reads “that the defendant on 13/2/2021 at Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this honorable court did attempt to rape one Kolawole Omotola, and also caused grievous harm on her.

The offences contravene sections 359 and 335 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap. C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

In her testimony before the court, the victim said, “I was sleeping around 11:00 p.m., I heard a bang at my door, I woke up to know what was happening, the defendant suddenly emerged with a knife, he ordered me to lay down on the bed but I declined.

“He started hitting my head on the wall and punching me in the face, I was shouting loudly, this attracted attention of my neighbours who came to my rescue after he had overpowered me.

“He was handed over to the Police while I was taken to the hospital for medical treatment due to knife and bodily injury sustained during the struggle.”

To prove his case, the prosecutor, Olasanmi Oluwaseun called two witnesses and tendered statements of the victim, witnesses and defendant as exhibits.

The defendant in his defence through his counsel, Busayo Sule admitted and confessed to have committed the offences.

“When I broke to her house, I wanted to have sex with her because she looked sexy and beautiful, it was painful for not succeeding in having sex with her, I overpowered her but was rescued by her neighbours.”

Justice Olatawura said in considering the appropriate sentence to be passed, “I take notice of the fact that sexual aggravated assaults on female have alarmingly increased within this jurisdiction and it must be nipped in the bud.

“The defendant showed no remorse up to this point, he is in my own opinion, not only a clear and present danger, but also a threat to women and should not be given any sympathetic consideration, so as to serve as a deterrent to other people or person of his ilk.

“The defendant is hereby sentenced to 14 years imprisonment with canning in respect of count one (Attempt to rape) and two years imprisonment in count two (Grievous harm). The sentences are to run concurrently.”

CAN Is Not a Political Party, Says Oshiomhole

By
Uche Mbah
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By Uche Mbah

A former governor of Edo State, Adam Oshiomhole, has thrown his weight behind the Muslim-Muslim ticket presented by the All Progressives Congress party towards the 2023 Presidential elections.

Speaking as a guest on Arise TV’s Morning Show  Wednesday, the former APC National Chairman said the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, is not a political party.

“You do not expect people who have expectations and when they suddenly find that they are dashed, to celebrate in terms of personal interests”, he said.

Oshiomhole has been silent since he was sacked by the ruling party as its Chairman.

The party itself has been embroiled in the Muslim-Muslim ticket controversy, with Northern Christians, led by Babachir Lawal and Yakubu Dogara, up in arms against what they perceived as anti Christian posture of the party.

Both politicians belong to the ruling APC.

But fielding questions on the programe, Oshiomole said CAN should be more concerned about what the chosen candidates can do rather than bicker over faith.

“I think Nigeria’s challenges are beyond religion. If religion is the answer, we have both Churches and we have more Mosques. I think the issue before us, which we have to spend time discussing is what will any of the Presidential candidates do differently to expect a different outcome,” he said.

According to him, he will prefer to look at the background of the politicians involved. “I would like to look at their background because none of them is new, or a stranger to public service. I want to be able to evaluate what they did before to convince me as to what they will do differently if given the opportunity.

“I think these are the issues and given the serious situation we are in, in terms of the economy, security, you name it, I think this is what we should devote them to, to be honest, for me is dysfunctional, and evidence exists that Nigeria was probably at his best where religion did not feature whether under military rule and even thereafter.”

He demanded evidence that Muslims are safer right now, “relative to Christians or that Christians are safer relative to Muslims.”

According to him, Tinubu never participated in governance under APC.

“It is the fact that Asiwaju by himself said yes he co-founded APC. I was a co-founder Governor of APC, along with Fashola and other Governors.

“But he never participated in governance. Never held any position in government. He didn’t carry out any contract on behalf of government.”

Defending President Buhari, Oshiomhole said he, Buhari, inherited a terrible economic situation. According to him, Buhari has made some progress but new problems keep emerging.

Buhari has been in the saddle for seven years and counting.

Wema Bank Denies Issuing N50m Dud Cheques, MD Faces Arrest

By
James Orji
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The Ademola Adebise-led Wema Bank Plc, says it will use all legal means at its disposal to fight  the warrant of arrest issued against its chief executive by an Abuja Magistrate court.

The court, on Tuesday, issued the arrest warrant against Adebise on Tuesday over a case of alleged forgery and issuance of dud cheques in connection with a garnishee order for the payment of a judgement-debt in favour of Bayelsa State Government.

Adebise had refused to attend the court proceedings following which the court ordered his immediate arrest.

But in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday, the commercial bank said the case was twisted on its head, describing the basis upon which the order was issued, misleading.

According to the bank, its managing director was never served the court summons, and the proceedings carried out without the bank’s knowledge.

Apart from this, Wema Bank stated that it had already won in appeal, and that it never issued a N50 million dud cheques as being alleged.

“The attention of Management of WEMA BANK PLC has been drawn to the trending news in the media to the effect that a Magistrate’s Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, had issued a warrant for the arrest of our Managing Director, MR. ADEMOLA ADEBISE, in connection with a Garnishee proceeding for the payment of a judgement-debt on behalf of the Bayelsa State Government,” the bank said.

The statement said further: “WEMA BANK PLC would like to use this medium to refute the allegations and dismiss the gross representation of facts in regard to the material facts, and the apparent breach of the principles of fair hearing before such order of the court was entered against our Managing Director.

“WEMA BANK PLC wishes to state that, contrary to the facts presented before Her Lordship, Mrs. Elizabeth Jones, the said set of five cheques for the total sum of N50 million issued in protest based on pending applications before an Abuja High Court then, were in favor of the Chief Registrar FCT High Court, not in favour Barrister. George Haliday who is now claiming the proceeds of the cheques.

” It is important to note that those cheques were not signed by MR. ADEMOLA ADEBISE and had not assumed the position of the Managing Director of the bank at the material time the cheques were issued in favour of the Chief Registrar.

“Furthermore, we would like to state that the five cheques issued in protest by our Bank were not dud cheques as alleged by the complainant. The cheques have only not been cleared for payment because of the subsisting Appeal at the Court of Appeal Abuja on the Garnishee proceeding which has now been decided in favour of the bank.

” It was after Barrister George Haliday lost at the Appeal Court that he resorted to a Magistrate Court in Abuja to lodge a complaint about issuance of dud cheques. It is very worthy of note that the judgement debt against Bayelsa State Government, which Barrister George Haliday attempted to enforce by a garnishee proceeding, thereby leading to the issuance of the cheques in question had been settled by Bayelsa State Government via a Terms of Settlement between Barrister. George Haliday and the Bayelsa State Government at the Supreme Court.

“WEMA BANK wishes to state that the warrant for the arrest of MR. ADEMOLA ADEBISE is in violation of his fundamental rights to fair hearing as he was never personally served with any process to appear before the Magistrate Court, neither was he represented in court. We are a law-abiding corporate citizen; if there was any court summon properly served on the Managing Director for his appearance in court, he would have done so without fail.

” But, in this case, there was no such service extended to him or any court processes personally served on him to appear in court until a warrant of arrest was issued in absentia. We view the arrest warrant as being an infringement on his fundamental rights.

“We, therefore, refute and dismiss in their entirety the allegations of dud cheque and forgery levelled against our Bank and the Managing Director. We also dismiss the inappropriate issuance of bench warrant on our Managing Director.

“We are already engaging in legitimate actions to seek redress and bring all the perpetrators of these unprofessional conducts and heinous criminal act against our Managing Director and the bank to book.”

Update: Arise TV Presenter Tenders Public Apology On TV Over Traffic Offence; Says Lessons Learnt

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Oseni on BRT Lane

By Adesina Soyooye

Rufai Oseni, a popular TV Presenter, on Wednesday, tendered a public apology to everybody involved in his traffic offence case with the police.

He had, earlier, apologised to the Police for using expletives on them when he was accosted on Monday for driving on a Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, lane.

He claimed in a tweet on Monday, that a policeman pointed a gun at him for driving on a dedicated BRT lane.

On Tuesday, Oseni was arraigned in Court for the Traffic Offence. He was found guilty and fined the sum of N70,000, which he paid and took back his car which was confiscated after the offence.

But a humbled Oseni, appearing on ‘The Morning Show’, which he co-hosted on Wednesday, apologised to the public. He also said he has learnt his lessons.

Oseni:  “As many of you know, in the last two days, I have been in the news for the wrong reasons. This has resulted in needless distraction for my friends, family, members of the public, and for all my colleagues here on Arise News Channel.

“I would, therefore, like to apologise to all parties over what transpired during the incident with the Police when I was stopped for driving on a bus lane. I cannot and, dare not, lay claims to knowing it all.

“Lessons have been learnt from this entire episode, and this has been a most humbling experience for me.

“I would also like to use this opportunity to express my gratitude to all those who have reached out to me in the last two days for their guidance and counseling.

“Thank you, everyone. God bless you all and please let’s continue to strive to make our country a better place for all of us.”

IGP Gives Marching Order To Police Formations; Stabilise Internal Security, He Tells Them

By
Ayodele Oni
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Alkali Baba Usman - IGP

By Ayodele Oni

Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Usman Alkali Baba has given police formations in the country marching order to stabilize internal security order, in their areas of operations.

Addressing police topshots during a workshop on security on Abuja Wednesday, the IGP charged that “you are all directed to immediately commence a special visibility policing operation across your Commands.

“This initiative will encompass the crime mapping of your Areas of Jurisdiction, identification of vulnerable points and massive deployment of personnel on motorized and foot patrols of the cities. The initiative also involves the utilization of intelligence to undertake targeted raids on criminal cells.

“I must note that in the face of the current security situation, the citizens of this country and Mr. President demand of us a higher level of commitment to duty towards addressing the prevailing fear of crime among the populace and mitigating the current security threats.

“This is our mandate, and we must commit to achieving it. The pathways for this will form the key object of our deliberation today.

“An evaluation of the security situation in the country in recent times shows a concerning trend of an increase in the threat posed to the nation by terror elements, bandits, kidnappers, and other highly organized, and violent criminal syndicates.

“The trend is being compounded by the increasing rate of arms trafficking and proliferation. This has of late occasioned an attack on the Correctional Facility in Kuje during which some high-profile criminals escaped.

“While the Police in conjunction with the other security agencies have succeeded in re-arresting some of the fleeing felons and have enhanced the security of the facility, this incident, and the increasing violent campaigns by armed groups in the country have led to general apprehension among the citizens and continue to present a major threat to our national security.

“For the avoidance of doubts, much as the law has bestowed on us certain powers and authorities to aid in the attainment of our law enforcement mandate, the exercise of these powers and authority is not absolute and you shall at every point of the misuse of such, be held accountable.

“My covenant with Nigerians and our service oath is to uphold the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which is built on the projection and protection of the rights and well-being of all citizens.

“I must, therefore, sound out this warning loud and clear that under my watch, any police officer that betrays his or her Service oath and tramples on the rights of citizens he or she has sworn to serve and protect, will be identified, isolated and dealt with promptly, firmly and transparently.

“This will be in a manner that will leave neither the citizens nor the police personnel in doubt about my determination to separate the bad officers from the professional ones in the interest of the Force.

“It is in furtherance to this that approval was given some days ago for the dismissal and de-kitting of ex-Inspector Richard Gelle who was caught in a viral video dignifying and justifying extortion of members of the public.

“Some other of such viral videos including that of a police operative that was physically and violently assaulting a citizen with cutlass in Cross River State are being reviewed and I can assure that similar prompt disciplinary action will be initiated against the erring officers and the outcome made public in due course.

“Indeed, the review of these viral videos on abuse of police professional standards and the rights of citizens will be undertaken as part of this strategic meeting.

“This is with a view to holistically evaluating the root causes of such intolerable misconducts and evolve sets of actions that will prevent such occurrences in future.

“I once again, charge you to continue to provide strategic leadership that will remain sensitive to issues of rights violations, and excessive and unjustifiable use of authority by police personnel in your Commands.

“You are to be conscious of the fact that such, if unchecked, will deepen the trust gap between the citizens and the Police and make the attainment of our mandate difficult.

“To aid this process, I have directed that the recently enacted Nigeria Police Act, 2020 and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act which are key legal policing instruments be printed and widely circulated across all Commands and Formations.

“This is with the expectation that the initiative will broaden the professional knowledge of officers, particularly, in relation to their mandate, limits of their powers, and their obligations within the criminal justice administration system in Nigeria.”

Oseni, Popular Arise TV Presenter, Arraigned, Fined; Apologises For Expletives On Police

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Oseni on BRT Lane

By Adesina Soyooye

For a popular Television Presenter, it was a case of not adhering to what  one preaches when he ran foul of the law, and used expletives on Police Officers.

Rufai Oseni of the popular ARISE Television Morning Show, was on Wednesday, arraigned in Court, and fined the sum of  N70,000 for running foul of the law by committing a traffic offence in Lagos.

Trouble started for Oseni when he drove on a Bus Rapid Transit lane, BRT.

He was accosted by the Police for the offence. But he refused to give in, and/or accept his offence, insisting that it was his Google map that “took him to the lane.”

When the Police tried to confiscate his car, which they eventually did, he poured expletives on the officers, and threatened to put a call through to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

In an update on the now celebrated incident, Tuesday, the Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin,  addressed the claim by Oseni  that a policeman pointed a gun at him for driving on the dedicated BRT lane.

According to Hundeyin, “Mr. Rufai Oseni was in court earlier today. He was found guilty of contravening Lagos State Transport Law (2018).

“He was subsequently fined Seventy Thousand Naira Only. He made the payment, after which his vehicle was released to him.”

On Monday, Rufai had tweeted, “A Nigerian police officer pointed a gun at me and forcefully took my keys and drove my car off, because he wanted to enforce a traffic infraction.”

But responding to the tweet, Hundeyin said:  “Rufai, let’s not do this. You admitted to me that you passed a BRT lane. It’s against the law.

“Your claim that google maps took you there is not tenable. You disobeyed and resisted the officers. We’ll sanction the officer who misused firearm if proven.”

In a video which trended on Twitter Tuesday, Oseni was  seen heaping insults on the policemen, and boasting that “I will call the Governor …nonsense.”

Oseni has, however, apologised for using expletives on the Police on Tuesday, but insisted he had the right to call the State Governor if he was being maltreated by the Police.

Insecurity: Police AIG Shot

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Audu Madaki AIG

By Adesina Soyooye

Audu Madaki, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 12, and his  convoy were the target of terrorists on Tuesday, August  2, 2022.

They were ambushed by the hoodlums who opened fire on them. While the AIG survived the attack by whiskers, getting away with gun shot  injuries, his Police Orderly was not that lucky. He paid the supreme price.

The attack which took place  in broad day light, at about 2.30pm, was at Barde Zangidi area of Bauchi State.

In the past couple of months, insecurity has risen to an unprecedented level in the country. The terrorists are getting bolder and more brazen by the day – attacking the President’s advance team in Katsina, the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, and a detachment of the elitist Guards Brigade, in Abuja,  which job is to protect the President.

The Federal Government was forced to close down all schools in Abuja, recently, for fear of deadly attacks on them.

Neighboring towns to the Federal Capital Territory, have been under attack, recently, including a military facility around the Zuma Rock.

Heavy Rainfall, High Cost Of Diesel Affecting Optimal Productivity – LAWMA MD, Odumboni

By
Akinwale Kasali
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LAWMA Dump Site

By Akinwale Kasali

The Managing Director of Lagos State Waste Management Authority, Ibrahim Odumboni has cleared the air over the complains of Lagosian on the alleged indiscriminate dumping of refuse on major roads in the State, which has affected vehicular movements in some parts of the State.

LAWMA is being criticized from different quarters over its perceived insensitivity and alleged lackadaisical approach to keeping the State clean.

Reacting to this allegations, Odumboni said that waste is recurrent in nature, as the Agency has to cater for the daily waste of over 20m people in the State.

He said contrary to the insinuation that Lagos is becoming one of the dirtiest States in the country, Lagos, is in fact the cleanest city in Nigeria with adequate sustainability measures in place to cater for the waste generated daily by over 20 million residents.

Odumboni added that it would be recalled that over the last few weeks in the media, LAWMA mentioned carting away backlogs as a result of heavy rain in July at its various landfills ( which are now all be rehabilitated) whilst still dealing with daily generation.

Stressing further, the LAWMA said that Private Sector Participation, PSPs, are working hard across the state despite rising diesel cost to ensure daily standards are maintained and any areas needing attention are reported by our monitors and tenements using our contact mediums.

Speaking further, he said as regards the offensive odour of indiscriminate dumping of refuse at Ipodo Market area of Ikeja Local Government, the capital of the State, is been carried out by the traders.

He said LAWMA has passed a notice for the market to be closed so that the incessant and indiscriminate dumping of waste in the area becomes history.

Alimosho, which is the most populous area in the State has high records of refuse littering the major roads from Meiran, Ajoke Ayo, Abule Egba, Aboru, AIT Road, Alagbado area of Alimosho are always dirty, which is a major concern.

Reacting to this, Odumboni said LAWMA is working tirelessly to make the State conducive for all, on a daily basis, a minimum of 0.69kg of waste is generated per person, which is quite an Herculean  for the PSPs in meeting the demand, putting into consideration the high cost of Diesel.

The LAWMA said in addressing this issue, Olusosun Dumpsite has been rehabilitated and is billed to be open from tomorrow morning, 4th August, 2022 and have capacity to tip 120 in an hour.

He added that the same rehabilitation is on going at Igando, Badagry, Epe and Ikorodu landfills to make the State a clean haven for all.

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